July 28, 2021 – Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine continues to show strong protection against serious illness and hospitalization after 6 months, but overall protection against the virus appears to have waned after six months, according to a new study.
The study’s pre-print report, dated July 28, 2021, which was not peer-reviewed, suggests a gradual “declining trend in vaccine effectiveness” over a 6 month period after two doses of Pfizer vaccine exceeded 45,000 People all over the world.
The study finds that the overall effectiveness drops from 96% to 84%.
At the same time, a third booster dose of Pfizer vaccine increases neutralizing antibody levels against the Delta variant by more than five-fold compared to levels after just a second dose in people aged 18 to 55, new data from Pfizer shows.
The immune response from the third dose appears to be even more robust in people aged 65 to 85 – more than 11 times higher than the second vaccination.
The company noted that after a third dose, this could translate into an estimated 100-fold increase in protection for the Delta variant. These new results are detailed in a Pfizer results report for the second quarter of 2021, which determines that the data will be submitted for publication in a medical journal.
The data come from a relatively small number of people who were examined. There were 11 people in the 18- to 55-year-old group and 12 people in the 65- to 85-year-old group.
“These preliminary data are very encouraging as Delta continues to expand,” said Mikael Dolsten, MD, chief scientific officer and president of Pfizer’s global research, development and medical organization, during the prepared remarks on today’s corporate earnings conference call CNN.
The availability of a third dose of any of the current COVID-19 vaccines would require an FDA emergency approval change or full FDA approval of the vaccine.
The possibility of approval or approval of a third dose was not undisputed. For example, on July 8, when Pfizer announced its intention to seek approval for a booster dose with the FDA, the CDC, FDA, and the National Institutes of Health quickly issued a joint statement saying they would decide when the right time for Americans is a third vaccination. The agencies partially stated, “We are prepared for booster doses when and when science shows they are needed.”
In addition, at a July 12 media briefing, the World Health Organization said rich countries should prioritize exchanging COVID-19 vaccine supplies to other countries in need around the world before giving their own residents doses for a booster.
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